Going For More Than Gold

March 10, 2010 • John Bergman - Sports Editor  
Filed under Sports

As the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver pass, people still feel the spirit of competition and unity across the globe. Each Olympian is blessed with a certain talent that they excel at such as skiing, bobsledding, or skating. However, these Olympians did not have to overcome intellectual and physical disabilities that severely cripple them from childhood. Very few people tuned into the Special Winter Games in Boise, Idaho in February 2009, but these athletes have the qualities of a true champion.
The Special Olympics originated during a summer camp by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, mother of President John F. Kennedy, in June of 1962. The first Summer Games were held in Chicago on Soldier Field during July of 1968. And the games have taken off from there, gaining government funding and support from many volunteers. It also was negatively impacted from society in some movies like The Ringer. Practices and competitions happen 365 days of the year in almost 180 countries.
Overcoming adversity is the first obstacle these athletes have to hurdle. Abdel-Rahman Hassan of Saudi Arabia was born with an intellectual disability and partial paralysis. He wanted to become a swimmer. His dad said it took him a month to hold his breath underwater for more than three seconds and a year to swim more than a meter. Hassan defied the odds and won gold at the Special Summer Games in China in both the 25-meter and 50-meter races. Now the Special Olympics are filled with these types of life changing stories, but it is our job to give the recognition to the athletes that they deserve.
“Special Olympics changed my life and my love of sports and helped me achieve all this unimaginable success,” said Xu Chuang, Special Olympics China Athlete. Interacting with the other athletes opens the door to joy and friendship that some of these people have trouble finding in society.
Hark work and service is required to make these games possible. Volunteer opportunities are available in Saint Louis area to help with local events. Also, donating money to the games helps to continue the tradition on www.specialolympics.org. Even being aware of the athletes and not using derogatory terms in public is a way to help. Participating with mentally challenged people in Special Olympic Unified Sports can make someone’s day.
This is a global event that everyone can contribute to his or her hometown. Sports are a way to connect with other people and achieve self-satisfaction that is difficult to do in other aspects of life. Being involved gives these special athletes a sense of meaning and a way to have fun with their peers.
Volunteering in the state of Missouri is a way to get connected to the Special Olympic program. SOMO (Special Olympics in Missouri) promotes unity in the community and helping special athletes develop physical fitness, find courage, experience joy, and build relationships with other mentally challenged people.
Missouri offers 21 different sports for these athletes and gives the athletes a chance to compete and possibly advance in their sport. In 2009, Missouri sent two athletes to compete in the Winter Games in Idaho. On average 76% of each dollar donated goes to support and grow the Special Olympic program. Currently in the month of March, there will be several basketball and track events for opportunities to volunteer.
The adults and youth that participate experience joy from sports that can be hard to find in their other struggles in society. Although the Special Winter Games went without notice, the athletes worked as hard as the Vancouver Olympic participants to achieve something that many cannot comprehend. Beating all odds with a disability.

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